He was in Vancouver for a four-day official visit.
During a joint country roundtable discussion on mining, critical minerals, and energy in Vancouver, Canada, on Friday, July 3 (local time), President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed the Philippines’ readiness for business and partnerships.
“The Philippines is certainly open for business, ready for partnerships, and committed to create a long-term value to responsible resource development and sustainable growth,” President Marcos said as he led the high level discussion on collaboration.
He added, “As we continue to strengthen our economic ties, we look forward to working with Canadian partners in transforming opportunity into tangible investments, innovation, and shared progress.”
According to him, the country is determined to be an “active contributor to the industries that will define the future,” and by working with its partners, the Philippines can also build secure supply chains, more competitive industries, and future-ready economies.
Amomg the sectors where the government sees huge potential in is mining, particularly nickel extraction and export of raw ore, which he told offers a big opportunity in terms of moving up the value chain.
In energy, he said, especially with the events in the Middle East, collaboration has always been a top consideration in terms of economic development.
Among the participating Canadian companies in the roundtable discussion, organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), include B2Gold Corp. OceanaGold Corp., TELUS Corporation, and NQX., Blackberry, CGI, Everise, ManuLife, OpenText, SunLife
There were also key inputs in electric vehicle batteries, renewable energy technologies, semiconductors, energy storage systems, and advanced electronics, critical minerals underscore the Philippines’ strategic importance in global supply chains supporting the clean energy transition and digital economy.
DIGITAL ECONOMY
Hence, he noted that the Philippines is also ready to help define the next phase in the growth of the digital economy through partnerships with Canada.
He said that it will be catalyzed by the upcoming announcement of the Philippine-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which will be the first-ever bilateral trade pact that the Philippines will forge with a North American partner.
The President also said that he expects the landmark agreement to usher in more robust bilateral trade, strategic investment and seamless economic cooperation.
Together, that will provide a permanent and predictable framework to accelerate the digital partnerships.
According to the President, the trust, adaptability, policy clarity, and decisiveness are what the the IT-BPM sector needs and acknowledged that the IT-BPM sector is no longer a back office function and cited it as the “core driver of innovation, productivity and global value creation.”
Marcos stated, “Customer experience, analytics, cybersecurity, financial service support, healthcare information management and digital operations are now central to how global enterprises compete and how they grow.”
He continued, “This transformation is already evident in our engagement with Canadian companies.”
The Chief Executive also pointed to the strong participation of Canadian firms in the Philippine IT-BPM landscape.
In a separate occasion, the President noted that conversations with IT-BPM firms also explored establishing artificial intelligence hubs and learning centers to help develop AI skills for the global workforce.
INVESTMENTS BY OCEANAGOLD
During the trip, Marxos also personally confirmed that the Canada-based OceanaGold Corp. is carrying out a US$1.9 billion expansion plan for the Philippine mining ecosystem.
The announcement came after his productive meeting with to extend the operational life of the Didipio Gold-Copper Mine until 2037.
Leveraging crucial VAT-related incentives under the CREATE MORE Act to enhance capital efficiency, the company’s project balances resource optimization with a minimized environmental footprint across Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino.
Marcos also had a one-on-one meeting Friday with the executives of B2Gold Corp., another Canadian mining company, and Philippine-based Filminera Resources Corp. to discuss planned expenditures of approximately US$14-million relating to the solar plant expansion of the Masbate Gold Project and exploration programs.
In addition, B2Gold has provided the President a letter of commitment, subject to further agreement between the parties, to provide technical and exploration expertise to evaluate opportunities to extend the mine life of the Masbate Gold Project.
B2Gold executives likewise updated the President on new exploration initiatives being advanced in the Philippines through the B2Gold Philippines Exploration Office.
The company has already put up the office following its experience in its Philippine operation, with B2Gold executives disclosing that the Masbate Gold Project generated over PHP10 billion in taxes paid to local and national governments in 2025.
Masbate Gold Project’s extensive tax contributions also helped raise its host town of Aroroy from a lower-income 4th-class to a thriving 1st-class municipality, translating into superior public infrastructure alongside robust educational assistance and training programs for local scholars.
THE OUTCOME OF THE TRIP
“All these business engagements in the sectors of mining, critical minerals, energy, services, and IT-BPM resulted in a combined US$2.5 billion in investment from Canadian partners,” President Marcos announced during a conference.
The President said the investment commitments reinforce the need to conclude a free trade agreement between the Philippines and Canada.
“Thus, it is already timely that we presently are negotiating a free trade agreement with Canada, which we hope will further strengthen our economic cooperation once it enters into force,” Marcos stated.
Meanwhile, President Marcos also noted the recent elevation of the bilateral relations between the Philippines and Canada to a strategic partnership, adding that it is the beginning of a new phase of cooperation.
Marcos also said the meetings with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, government officials, and business leaders strengthened cooperation in security, trade, energy, technology, and investment.
“Tunay na naging matagumpay ang ating biyahe kung saan napag-sang-ayunan natin ang ilang mga inisiyatibo sa hanay ng gobyerno at ng pribadong sektor,” said the President. “Hard work, though, does not end here. Patuloy tayong magsisikap upang ang ating nakamit at nasimulan sa Canada ay yayabong at madarama ng mas nakakaraming Pilipino.”
Marcos said he and Carney agreed to elevate bilateral ties as both a “recognition of the longstanding relationship between the two countries and a roadmap for deeper cooperation.”
“This move, while reflective of the deep and strong bilateral relations that we have developed with Canada, also catalyzes our next steps towards the new phase of our relations in ensuring the sustained and dynamic growth of our bilateral ties,” the President added.
President Marcos noted that nearly one million Filipinos now live in Canada and said the visit sought to strengthen cooperation in security, commerce, and other priority areas.
The President said, “I have tasked the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Maria Teresa Lazaro, to work together with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand to create a plan of action focusing on joint initiatives that will help both our countries adapt to shifting global realities, address shared challenges, and build capacities for future-ready partnerships.”
Marcos also said both countries reaffirmed the strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific region and agreed to work together on shared regional priorities. Moreover, he also thanked Canada for its continued support for the rules-based international order in the South China Sea.
“I also thank Prime Minister Carney for Canada’s vocal and consistent support in upholding the rule of law in the South China Sea, particularly on the basis of UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award,” President Marcos said.
In additon, the leaders also made a commitment to conclude this year the Philippines-Canada free trade agreement (FTA), which will enhance trade between the two nations.
This is in addition to the commitment they made to also seal the ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement, a regional free trade setup that will cover 10 other ASEAN countries.
BACK IN PH
On Sunday afternoon, July 5, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. returned to the Philippines after his official visit to Canada, with the aircraft carrying President Marcos and the members of the Philippine delegation having touched down at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) at 4:00 pm.